Meat cutting and handling apparatus



June 17, 1930. A. E. ozou'F MEAT CUTTING AND HANDLING APPARATUS FiIed Dec. 5, 1926 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 June 17, 1930. A. E. OZOUF MEAT CUTTING AND HANDLING 'APPARATUS Filed Dec. 3, 1926 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 .lllll \|l gwuefntoc MM. 4? W abbozwaq June 17, 1930. A. E. O-ZOUF' 50 MEAT CUTTING- AND HANDLING APPARATUS i 20 necessarily slows Patented June 17, 1930 many, or onioaea rtnrnois MEAT CUTTING Ann HAnpLIne arrnimrus 3 Application filed December 3, 1926; Serial No.'152,394.

' ,The present inventionarelates to meat, cutk ting apparatus for, and methods of handling meat products. More particularly the invention; relatesto chopping Or cut ting. apparatus for severing shouldersor other parts from animal: sides andto methods oftrimming animal meat products in rapidrand efficient manner. a v

" It has heretoforebeen the practice in the 1 packing industry to sever shoulders or other parts from the carcass sides'by positioning the parts to be severed beneath' vertically movable knives or chopping blades; ,The

prior knives have generally been so construct- 5 eda-nd arranged that the operator must reach 1 as maybe: made by a utlhzation of the vabeneath the knife to draw theproduct in a path under vthe blade in position' for sever-' ing. Serioustlanger tothe operator results necessitating care to avoid accidents which up the operation and increases'the cost thereof. At the same time thecarcass 1S subjected tolconsiderable han dhngun positlonlng it under the kDLfQ fOI" the severing operation and thereafter remov- 2 5 ing the out parts from the knife to permit the succeeding operation Afurtherdisadvantage of prior apparatus is 'that thecutting movements have been such thatclean cutsarenot effected, portions of thecarcass are crushed, and frequently the; skin or connecting tissues on the lower side are not cut through by the first'operation whichmust be? repeated'before the parts are completely severed.

, An obj ectof'the present invention is to provide a'novel chopplngi apparatus for 1186111 packing houses and especially'adapted to sever'shou'lders or other parts from the sides of animal carcasses provided with an unobstructed path for the carcassto be s evered through the cutting position so that sulostan tial sections ofi animal carcasses may be severed without thenccessity for shifting the sides-lendwise-to get it into severing position. H .145 1 Another-objectrofthe invention is toypro vide a chopping apparatus bywhi'ch'the carcass side to be severed maybe moved into po} sition::longitudinallyswith the knife blade, severed, and. moved continuously in an unobstructed path away from the knife Still another object of the invention is to provide a power operated cutting apparatus in which a novel, chopping and cuttingstroke is, imparted to a chopping blade so that a 'cleancut entirely through a piece of meat to be severed. may be made in a single operation and, Without crushing. i

A furtherobject of the invention is to pro vide continuous apparatus and methods for severingfimeat in which the products tobe severedare moved continuously through a chopping device and severerd withoutthe ne cessity for manual, handlingfduring thetrimmmg operation;

Further 0b ,ects, of the invention are such rious combinations sub-combinations, steps and principles hereinafter setiorth in the ..Figurej1 is a frontelevation of a preferred form of hopping device, embodying certain of theprinciples of my invention:

Figure 2 is a side elevation of the form of invention showninFigure 1 in its preferred relation to a moving top table for carrylng out my improved: method ofhandling meat :5

. products.

, Figure Bis azpl'an viewof essential parts of the arrangement shown in Figure 2. s

Figure 4: is a detail view showing the mutilated-di'iving gears utilized. :Figure 5 is-a detail view-showing the knife driving eccentric; a i a i A base "casting lxlS; provided on suitable pads on which the electrical drive motor '2 is supportedfl MotoruQis provided with an armature shaft 3, which, through theiriction or slipncl'utchd d-rives the shaft 6.' Shaft 6 is supported inasuitablebearings'in gear casingfiand-through a worm gear and worm wheelzrtnotshown) "mounted in',.casing. 7

drives the shaftS. Shaft 8 is supported at oneend-inLpedestaI bearings 9', and at its otherend is supportedin a bearing 10, se-

cured to; frame casting 11' which in turn is supported iromFthe baseli Securedto the 1'00 smooth outer end of and driven by shaft 8 is the sprocket 12 which through a chain 13 drives sprocket wheel 14. Sprocket wheel 14 is rotatably journaled on the spindle 15 which in turn is secured to and extends from supporting section 16 of knife bar stand 17. Stand 17 is secured to top casting 18 which in turn is secured to the upper ends of the upright frame castings 11 and 19 secured to and sup,- ported from the base 1; Securedto and rotatable with sprocket 14' and journaled on spindle 15 is a mutilated driving gear 20 having teeth 21 formed on approximately one third of its periphery, and having cylindrical locking surface 22 formed on the remainder of. its periphery. Teeth 21 are adapted to mesh with teeth 23 of the pinion 24, which in turn is provided with smooth concave locking surface 25 adapted to engage the cylindrical'surface22 of the driving gear 20. -Mutilated-f gear 20 and the mutilated pinion 24 are so shaped that for approximately one-third of'a revolution of'the' gear, teeth 21 willmesh with teeth 23 of the pinion 24 turning thepinion through a complete revolution. At the'end of the revolution, surface 25 ofthe pinion 24 will engage 'su'rface22 of gear 21- and the pinion will be held against rotation until the teeth re-engage. Pinion 24 is keyed to and drives shaft 26 whioh is supported in suitable bearing sections 27 ofoverhanging section 28 ofknifebar stand 1 knife bar 32.

. pivotally securedto -46 Secured to the outer end of shaft26 by means of key 29- is an eccentric 30 on which is rotatably supported a suitable circular bore formed in the circular section 31 of Cap33 secured to section31 by means of cap screws34holds the section .31 of the knife bar 32 in position" on eccen-i tric 30. Formed integrally with the section 31 of knife bar 32 is an extension 36 which fits in the bifurcated lower end offand is link 37' by means of the securing pin 38..- Link 37'at its'upper end is secured by formed integrally with "overhanging section 28 of knife bar stand 17. Secured to and depending from the knife bar 32 by means of studs or cap screws 42 isthe knife-43 provided with a lowercutting edge 44. Secured to top casting18 by means of studs 45 is a choppingsblock supporting casting 46 to which the wooden'chopping block 47 'is secured-by means of the securing plates 48 and the studs49.- I ,1

Themechanism so far described may be positioned adjacent a-stationary' work table 7 or bench with the upper level approximately flushwiththelevel of chopping block 47.

Motor'2 operates continuously driving muti-' lated gear .2 O. l/Vhile the smooth section-22 of the gear 20 is in-engagement with smooth section 25 of pinio'n '24, the pinionremain's. stationary, the knife is held in itsiupper to, the chopping block.

shown.

a pivot pin 39 to an extension 40.

most position, and the meat is properly positioned beneath the knife, preferably by moving it from left to right in Figure 1 on As rotation of gear 20 continues, teeth 21 will mesh with teeth 23 of pinion 24 rotating the pinion through a complete revolution. During the first half revolution of pinion 24, the action of cam 30 will swing knife bar 32 together with the knife 43 downward with a chopping motion bringing the edge 44 of the knife 43 substantially into contact and parallel with the top of chopping block 44, cleaving through the meat. '=During the. second quarter revolution of pinion 24 and cam 30, the knife will, in addition to its downward movement, have a motion from left to right as viewed in Figure 1 imparted thereto. This gives the knife, in addition to the chopping move ment, a sliding or cutting movement towards the end of the cutting stroke, andthe knife will be drawn across the block completely severing the meat product. During the final half. revolution of the pinion, the knife is swung upward by cam 30 to the position Concave section 25 of the pinion will engage the smooth section 22 of the gear 20'during the remaining two thirds of the revolution of thegear. Knife 43 will accordingly be held in its uppermost position for two-thirds of each revolution of the gear 20, andduring this interval the meat may be positioned on the block for cutting. During approximately the next one-sixth of the revolution of the gear 20, a quick chopping and sliding motion will be imparted to the knife, and during the remaining one-sixth revolution of the gear the knife 43 will be moved fromits lowermost to its uppermost position.

' It will be'noted that the overhanging support for the knife blade structe d path beneath and parallel tov the length of theblade for meat to be out so that meat may be pushed-clear of the knife without meeting any obstruction. It willacoordingly be seen that an operator need not reach beneath the knife blade to draw the meat to be cut into position andthe cuttingoperation may be much more expeditiously performed than is possible in the arrangements heretofore proposed. v

,While the chopping and cutting apparatus described may be used in connection with astationary work table, a movable top work table is preferably provided which is operated in: synchronism with the chopper and so marked that an operator can position the tion and in properly timed relation toreceive a chopping and severing blow from the knife. The severed section of the meat or carcass, such for example as the head or shoulder section, may. be'permitted-to drop out of the way provides an unob' and the main section of the carcass maybe conveyed along the top of the table to have further manufacturing operations performed thereon in well known manner. A preferred arrangement of apparatus for carrying out my continuous method of handling meat is shown in Figures 2 and 3 in which an endless moving top table made up of slats 51 is provided. Slats 51 are secured to the links of the endless conveyor chains 52. Secured in a tionary protecting rails60 and 61 are prefer-' ably provided adjacent the moving slats 51 and the upper surfaces of the slats are arranged fiush with the top of a chopping block 47. Lines 62 are applied to spaced slats 51, indicating the approximate position for the center of the meat, such for example as evismaximum safety to the operator.

cerated halved hog carcasses 63 to bring them under the knife 43 in properly timed relation to the operation of the knife. 7

In operation of this arrangement, the carcasses 63 are positioned on the table wit-h the section, such for example as the head and shoulder to be severed, extended over the edge of the moving top table so that the line of the cut to be made is in alignment with the blade 43 and with the centers of the carcasses approximately on a line 62 as shown. The table and chopper are driven synchronously and the carcasses are conveyed continuously from left to right in Figure 3 beneath the intermittently operated knife. As the carcasses pass beneath the knife the section protruding beyond the plane of the knife is severed with a single blow and the trimmed carcasses are conveyed continuously away from the knife without further handling.

After the carcasses are trimmed further cut ting operations may be performed on the moving top table if desired in well known manner in the production of meat products.

It will accordingly be seen that novel methods and apparatus have been provided for trimming parts of meat carcasses with a mmimum of handling, a maximum efliciency,and It will be obvious to those skilled in the art that wide variations may be made from the details herein disclosed without departing from the spirit of my invention. Accordingly, what is desired to be secured by Letters Patent and claimed as new is: i

1. A meat cuttingmachine comprising a cutting I block," a standard positioned and spaced laterally of said block and having an.

overhanging arm permitting free accessto said block, a cutterournaled in sa d arm for movement in planes transverse to. said arm and means to intermittentlyactuate said cutiter to cause itto engage the meat with a combined chopping and draw cutting stroke.

'2.- Alneat cuttingxmachine comprisinga cutting block,la' cutter support projecting over said block but spaced therefrom vertically and laterally from the longitudinal edge thereof, a' cutter mounted .on said support to move invplanes extending in the same longitermittently actuate said cutter and means to facilitate feeding the meat beneath the cutter ina direction longitudinalof said cutter.

3.=A meat cutting machine comprisingna support, a cutter block, a cutter operating shaft j ournaled in said support, a cutter extending with its cutting edge normal .to said shaft axis, and-means connecting said cutterto said shaft, and means causing said block: and shifted longitudinallyiof said block during the cutting of: the meat, and mechanism to intermittently actuate said c tter. 3 i .9

4;. A meat cutting. machine comprising a snpporna block extending longitudinally of the support, a standard arranged laterally'of said block and havingan overhanging arm whereby free access may be hadto lone end of said block, a cutter supported on said arm with its cutteredge extending lengthwiseof said block, and means to operate said cutter comprising elements that cause the cutter to approach and recedefrom'the block and to move endwise of the block and intplanes tranverse' to said arm during thecuttin-g -operation.-- a i E5.-A meat'cutting machine comprising a support,a cutter shaft, means to operate said shaft intermittently, a cutter supported for 0 and extending longitudinallyof said block .so tudinaldirection asisaid block, means to:in

cutter to the moved toward-and from said swinging and endwise movement planes v transverseto said shaft, and means secured to said shaft and to said cutter: to cause it to par-take offlsai-d movements.

, A'ineat cutting machine comprising asupport, a cutter shaft, means to operate said i shaft intermittently, a cutter linked to said support, and a cam secured to said shaft and journaledto said cutter to causeit to swing i and to move endwise.

7. A meat cutting machine comprising a support, a cutter shaft, a drive shaft, means to operatively connect said drive and cutter shaft including intermittent gears having said cutter to cause it to partake'of said m'ovements.-

8. In combination, a feedtable, a longitudinally arranged cutting block at one'edge of said table, a cutter arranged over said block torsvving on .an axis that is transverse to said block and to move endwise thereof, and. means to support and intermittently operate said cutter, said last named means p 10 said feed table and over said block in the di- 5 I ermitting free movement of the meat on rection of thevline of the cut.

9. The combination defined in claim 8 inr eluding a moving feed table having marks thereon to predetermine the position of the meat to be out, said marks being arranged to cause the meat to be presented to the cutter in synchronism with the operation thereof.

- 10. A meat cutting machine comprisinga support, a standard extending upwardly from said support, an arm extending laterally from said standard, a shaft supported in said arm for rotation about an axis eX- tending lengthwise thereof, a cutter mounted for operation inplanes substantially normal to said axis, means operated With said shaft I for causing said cutter to move angularly, A

and bodily endWise, means to feedmeat beneath said arm and cutter, and'means for intermittently operating said shaft; s

11. A meat cutting machine comprising a cutting block, a cutter support, a shaft-journaled in said support and provided Witha cam, a cutter journaled on said cam and provided Withan arm, a second arm secured-to a sa1d-support,-a link connecting said arms together and means-to operatesaid shaft '12. A meat cutter comprising: a' relatively longmeat guiding table, means on said table 7 to facilitate the equal spacing of portions of meatarrangcd transversely of said table, a

support adjacent said table provided standard substantially spaced from'the edge ofsaid table, said standard .beingprovided withjan overhanging arm spaced above the table,a cutter mounted on'said arm for move.-

ment about ,anaxis extending longitudinally of :said arm and means for intermittently operating said cutter. Y I In testimony whereof I aflix mysignatu're.

\ ARTHUR E. ozour. 

